Most of the homeless refuse to shift to shelters: HC told
16 Jan 2015 4:31 AM IST
A division bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice RS Endlaw was informed that a joint inspection was carried out by the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) and an NGO, which found that in 12 sites, the homeless people do not want to shift to night shelters.
A DUSIB official told the court that rickshaw pullers refused to shift to shelters saying if they go inside, their rickshaws will be stolen.
“Rickshaw pullers and small shopkeepers refused to go to shelters. They say their rickshaws and goods will be stolen,” the official told.
He told the court that 40 percent of the homeless people were drug addicts and he has asked Delhi
Police to stop the sale of drugs. “In Jama Masjid area, I saw a seven-year-old kid inhaling an eraser solution,” he told the bench.
Some homeless people were selling the blankets given to them for drugs, he said. “During the night, people would give blankets if they (homeless) were spotted on the roads. But they would sell the blankets the next morning,” he said. He said Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung was personally taking interest in the issue and has asked people to distribute blankets in night shelters only. The drug mafia in slum areas was also against putting up night shelters because health officials will inspect the places and the mafia will face difficulty in doing business, he added.
A DUSIB official told the court that rickshaw pullers refused to shift to shelters saying if they go inside, their rickshaws will be stolen.
“Rickshaw pullers and small shopkeepers refused to go to shelters. They say their rickshaws and goods will be stolen,” the official told.
He told the court that 40 percent of the homeless people were drug addicts and he has asked Delhi
Police to stop the sale of drugs. “In Jama Masjid area, I saw a seven-year-old kid inhaling an eraser solution,” he told the bench.
Some homeless people were selling the blankets given to them for drugs, he said. “During the night, people would give blankets if they (homeless) were spotted on the roads. But they would sell the blankets the next morning,” he said. He said Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung was personally taking interest in the issue and has asked people to distribute blankets in night shelters only. The drug mafia in slum areas was also against putting up night shelters because health officials will inspect the places and the mafia will face difficulty in doing business, he added.
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